Thread: Minn Kota i Pilot questions and answers

i have a terrova 80/us2/ipilot not sold on the us2 quite yet think it may be giving me some issues on my depth finder but got a good deal at trolling motor depot good guy out of arkansas told me and another guy i know that he would try to beat any price out there. love my terrova though no stiff steering cables all wadded up in the front of the boat and spot lock is handy for me it gives you a break from driving to go back and get something out of the back of boat or tie on a jig without getting to far off of your spot. The remote is handy at times but fishing with a pole in each hand vertical jigging or even one pole jigging a pain in the rear to keep up with steerin and changing speeds. just my opinion.

I have a Power drive V2 80/us2. I bought at Cabelas an upgrade kit to I-pilot. It has instructions on DYI install but I was looking to see from guys that have installed the upgrade if really I would be better off in having the boat shop do it. Looks like there is wiring that has to be done and I am fairly handy but I thought I would ask from someone that has done it.

Originally Posted by KAG

I have a Power drive V2 80/us2. I bought at Cabelas an upgrade kit to I-pilot. It has instructions on DYI install but I was looking to see from guys that have installed the upgrade if really I would be better off in having the boat shop do it. Looks like there is wiring that has to be done and I am fairly handy but I thought I would ask from someone that has done it.

If you're talking about installing the IP, it's only 2 screws to remove the oem head cover, make one electrical connection and then 2 screws to put the cover back on. Takes longer to read 'em than to do it. I did the upgrade myself, its really really easy.

If you need help, check youtube for videos from Minnkota. They show you step by step instructions for the autopilot with copilot and plain version for the powerdrive v2. The us2 should not change the install any.

Mine is the Plain V2 to I-Pilot upgrade. I looked and I had it apart already had it apart but there is wiring that has to be done.....I will look at the youtube vids. I feel fairly certain I can manage this but it would not be the first time I thought that and found out different.....

Thanks

For the non-autopilot version, just replace the head, route the wires down to the base, disconnect 2 wires, connect the wires from the ipilot harness, heat shrink the 2 spare wires, connect the round connector from ipilot. ...about it.. .I will have to do this here within 2 weeks.

Originally Posted by KAG

Mine is the Plain V2 to I-Pilot upgrade. I looked and I had it apart already had it apart but there is wiring that has to be done.....I will look at the youtube vids. I feel fairly certain I can manage this but it would not be the first time I thought that and found out different.....

Thanks

I just did the I-pilot upgrade on a V2. The only wiring to be done is to disconnect two wires and re-connect the two new ones...aside form shrink tubing the old connectors. I read posts from guys talking about what a pain it was. It is really easy. It took me about 1 hour total. It is a little more work if you had previously added the co-pilot feature and/or the original auto pilot. But if you are just adding I-pilot to a standard V2...it is very simple.

A wireless footpedal option would be awesome. I don't see why they could not do it.